Capture the Magic: Traditions to Make This Holiday Season Extra Special
Are you searching for inspiration for a new family tradition? Look no further! We've created a collection of our favorite holiday happenings here. It's truly remarkable how many varieties of activities and experiences exist that can bring immense joy to both adults and children alike. Read on to feel the excitement and happiness that these cherished traditions bring to those who hold them dear.
Alex Kouumdjieva
One of my favorite holiday traditions is every Christmas Day after we open presents, our extended family comes over for bagels and champagne. On a typical day, you might eat just one bagel with plain cream cheese. But on Christmas? Everyone eats 2, 3, 4, or more bagels, and we have a table full of toppings–bacon, pepperoni, lox, olives, onions, multiple cheeses, and lots more. It’s fun to try out different flavor combinations and to see what everyone else comes up with. Once everyone has their bagels, then we bring out the champagne and open more presents!
Jessica Hoffert
Favorite Holiday Movies: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and Home Alone. Favorite Tradition: Holiday light tours with hot chocolate
Shenxin (Akiko) Li
It's hard not to love Frank Sinatra's Christmas songs! His warm voice and beautiful vocal style are the perfect accompaniment for the holiday season. "Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!" is definitely one of my favorites too. The Swanson Quartet's warm background vocals only add to the song's charm, making it a timeless classic that I never tire of hearing. Whether you're decorating the tree, wrapping gifts, or just enjoying a cup of hot cocoa by the fire, Frank Sinatra's Christmas tunes are the perfect soundtrack for the season.
Amy Griglak
I really love holiday movies - my favorites are National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Elf, and Love Actually. They make the holidays so fun. As a family, one of our favorite things to do to get into the holiday spirit is to drive around and look at Christmas lights. We'll usually make hot chocolate to bring with us and listen to Christmas music on the radio while we drive around to different neighborhoods.
Sophie Baca
My favorite holiday place to go with the grandkids is Polar Express in Williams Arizona. Every year for Christmas my kids come over and we watch classic movies such as "It's a Wonderful Life", Home Alone, National Lampoon Christmas Vacation (Clark reminds me of my husband at Christmas) Elf, A Christmas Story, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and eat tamales, beans and rice all day.
Vanessa Plummer
I love driving around and seeing Christmas lights! We pack all into 1 car with some hot chocolate and drive around to different areas each year to see new and different light displays. We use the lights map each year to find the best displays.
Veronica Moreno
I love the movie "Love Actually!" My three daughters and I try to catch a Nutcracker Ballet every year and I take a family picture at one of the lighted events around the valley. Glendale Glitters one of my favorites.
Armando Sanchez
Every December I sit down and watch all the Star Wars movies throughout the month, a tradition I have kept since I was twelve years old. At the time of writing this I am on Empire Strikes Back and have been loving it.
Rachel
Playing board games with friends and family. Gets everyone laughing, and you always learn either a new game or new fun fact about those you play with (such as the quiet ones are the most competitive)!
Emma Gomez
We enjoy seeing holiday lights on homes like most people. Gilbert has some awesome neighborhoods that are incredible! Every year we find more and more lights to visit.
Karis Mora
My family and I enjoy admiring holiday lights. We love visiting Glendale Glitters, Scottsdazzle, and driving through the Moon Valley Neighborhood.
Sue Gitell
We like to make a thermos of hot cocoa and drive around listening to Christmas songs and looking at the Christmas lights in Ahwatukee.
Mike Turner
Christmas Vacation and Zoo Lights are our family traditions.
Darion Walker
Silent Night by the Temptations